Mobile leaders head to Barcelona for 2009 GSMA Congress

15 February 2009

Leaders from the mobile industry are gathering in Barcelona this week to do business and debate the future of the mobile phone industry at the
2009 GSMA Mobile World Congress.

Over 50,000 key decision-makers are expected to attend this year’s event, which takes place 16-19 February at Fira Montjuïc. Delegates will include leaders from the travel industry as the role of mobile technology continues to play an ever-increasing role in how travel booking decisions are made.

Breaking Travel News will be reporting live throughout the four-day event on the latest development and news within mobile travel technology.Under the theme of “Think Forward”, the Mobile World Congress will explore the impact of the economic crisis, as well as focus on key issues the development of the communications industry, including the adoption of advanced mobile broadband technologies, the shift to an open mobile ecosystem, and the proliferation of mobile travel and advertising services.

“We are living in an era of unprecedented and rapid change. Set against a backdrop of the financial crisis, wildly-fluctuating stock markets and a broad economic slowdown, the 2009 edition is set to be the most compelling Mobile World Congress yet,” said Rob Conway, CEO and Member of the Board of the GSMA.

“By bringing together the leaders of companies across the broad communications sector, we’ll be able to gain further insight into the significant challenges presently facing our industry, but more importantly, we’ll focus on how we can leverage mobility to create new opportunities, and drive productivity and prosperity going forward.”

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The congress will showcase mobile products and services from approximately 1,300 companies. CEOs from companies including AT&T, Microsoft, MySpace, Nokia, Telefónica, Telenor, Verizon and Vodafone will outline strategies for sustaining growth during the global downturn.

One of the keynote speakers is Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp. He said: “The Mobile World Congress will provide a great opportunity to take an in-depth look at the critical role that communications technologies can play in helping companies address the difficult economic issues we face today,” said Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft Corp.

“But even with the ongoing economic uncertainty as a backdrop, this is also a particularly important time for leaders from the communications, media, and IT industries to come together to discuss strategies that will enable us to drive future innovation and ensure long-term success.”

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey (pictured left) is also delivering a keynote, as well as hosting the MOFILM Mobile Short Film Festival as part of the Congress.